How do you feel about hosting the GQ Men Of The Year Awards 2017? I really enjoyed presenting the award to Michael Caine last year, so, I know the feel of the ceremony and presenting it is a short hop from there, I think. And also, Stanley Tucci, who’s a good friend of mine, did a great job as host last year, so I thought I would give it a go.

Exactly! Who would you say is your Man Of The Year?I’m going to go for Arsène Wenger, because the man has put up with so much stick and continues to be graceful in the face of some quite vitriolic abuse. The man changed the English game, and whether or not he’s come to the end of his time shouldn’t result in the level of abuse that he’s had to put up with from some sections of the Arsenal supporters. And I think he’s stayed serene, and calm at the centre of it. The man obviously loves football, and loves Arsenal football club. So I think my man of the year, just for what he’s had to put up with, is Arsène Wenger.

Who would you say is your style icon?My style icon has always been David Bowie. Just because of the variety of images and looks he created.

Rex / Shutterstock

And how about your idol?The person I respect most, in terms of historical figures, is probably Nelson Mandela. I just think that his tolerance in the face of extreme provocation is something every single person on the planet could learn from.

What do you wear to feel your most confident?A really sharp suit goes down very well. So if I’m at premieres, or anywhere where I need to feel good, I’ll look sharp. I’m about to leave you to go to a fitting for a Hugo Boss suit for the awards ceremony which I’m really looking forward to.

Any accessories that you particularly like to wear?I wear watches. I have a collection of a few of them.

What’s your number one watch?I’ve got a Rolex Sea-Dweller that I bought 15 years ago. I also have an Explorer One, which I wear as a smarter watch. I just came across a couple of iconic watches recently – a Jaeger Lecoutre Reverso and a Tag Heuer Monaco. So I suppose if I spend my money on anything it’s quality watches. It’s the only thing I really collect.

Advertisement

Who would I like to see playing the next Bond baddie? Me!

Aside from smart suits, what’s your favourite item in your wardrobe?I’ve got a pair of brogues that I’ve had for years that are like a fitted glove. I’ve worn them in so well that they fit me like a dream. I also have some lovely Prada patent leather shoes if I’m wearing a dinner suit. So, shoes are very important. Other than that, if we’re talking casual I’ve got a really great Fay leather jacket. And at the moment my favourite designer is John Varvatos.

What do you think about the fact that Daniel Craig is officially going to play Bond again?I think it’s fantastic news, because he’s a really good Bond. I think with Casino Royale they re-booted, as they say these days, the franchise, and he’s just gone from strength to strength. I think in the face of extreme skepticism he turned the whole thing round, and made a Bond for our time.

Would you ever like to see a female Bond? I don’t see why not, but I don’t know who that would be. It’s so connected to Fleming’s incarnation. I don’t know, I think any woman who’d be prepared to take it on – because it’s pretty hard work!

Read next

GQ Men Of The Year Awards 2018: Everything you need to know

My favourite thing about shooting Kingsman: The Golden Circle was probably spending most of my time with Halle Berry. Her character and mine have a little frisson which made going to work a lot of fun

Can you imagine anyone else playing Bond other than Daniel?That’s difficult as Daniel is a friend, so I wouldn’t want to speculate.

How about the next Bond villain? Who would you like to see playing that role?Me!

That’s what I hoped!I’ve done a few villains in my time and if it is going to be his last one, it would be amazing. I think it’s highly unlikely to happen, to be honest, but we can always hope, can’t we?

Have you been approached to be in a Bond film before?There were ideas that came up but for one reason or another we couldn’t follow through on them.

Advertisement

Rex / Shutterstock

How about the other big UK film series – Harry Potter, Star Wars, Game of Thrones – as one of the UK’s most respected actors, are you going to appear in any of those soon?Funnily enough, I had a real giggle with Gary Oldman when we were doing an interview together for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Because I joked I was probably the only British actor who wasn’t in the Harry Potter franchise. The same is true of Game of Thrones. Also Star Wars. Three huge franchises I am not a part of but I like to be as individual as possible. Having said that, we’re about to release Kingsman 2 and that’s the first time I’ve ever been involved with a sequel. So who knows how many of those there will be?

I’ve heard there Matthew Vaughn is planning on a third already. Have you talked about it with him?I haven’t, but knowing how good the first one was, and how good I think the second one is, I think it’ll be very difficult for him not to embark on a third. Just because people really love that world.

Is there anything you can tell us about the Kingsman: The Golden Circle?My favourite thing about shooting the second one was probably spending most of my time with Halle Berry. Her character and mine have a little frisson which made going to work a lot of fun.

Was it your best professional frisson yet?Certainly. Without doubt.

In the film we did together George Clooney injured his back so badly I think he had to have an operation. And I always felt very guilty because I happened to be torturing him at the time

Read next

People Just Do Nothing: ‘We have been the Best Garage Act every year since 2004’

The People Just Do Nothing crew on winning GQ Garage Act Of The Year 2017.

ByCharlie Burton

Do you think you’d work on another Grimsby film, with Sacha Baron Cohen?That was a project that I wanted to get involved with because Sacha is such an anarchic character. We had a lot of fun doing it, a lot of laughs. It was a very tough shoot. Comedy is harder than people think, but it was a real giggle. I don’t know if I have the stamina to do another one, if I’m being honest!

Do you do your own stunts?People always ask actors this question like it’s a badge of honour. I think we all like to do our own stunts because it’s part and parcel of why we became actors, to do all the make-believe and do the physical stuff. But the fact of the matter is we’re often not allowed to do our own stunts, because if anything happens, filming comes to a stop. It only takes one black eye, one finger poked in somebody’s eye, one cut on the head, one set of stitches in a cheek, and then you can’t film that person. So I think generally actors are keen to do their own stunts but are often prevented from doing them.

Have you ever hurt yourself doing a stunt?Yes, on the first Kingsman funnily enough, although it wasn’t strictly speaking a stunt. There was a sequence on an airplane where I was flying it, and every time I got up I smacked my head on the switches that were above me. I did it about three times in the same spot. And it drove me mad. It meant we almost couldn’t do the shot – because you have to cover over the cut.

Advertisement

Tom Cruise has this technical ability to run at the same speed as the camera, but actually make it look like he’s running faster

Tom Cruise has just broken his ankle doing a stunt…Well, there you go. That proves my point.

Do you think Tom Cruise makes everyone look bad by talking about how he does his own stunts?No, no he doesn’t make people look bad at all. I don’t feel very strongly either way about whether people do their own stunts, I mean he’s very good at it and he likes to do it. I think he gets a big kick out of it. And that’s fantastic. But, obviously the downside is: you break your ankle and the filming has to stop for ten weeks; that can be a bit of a pain.

The other day I had to do a running scene, and be filmed by a camera man who was being pulled along on a rig while I ran at him, and it’s actually quite hard to run at full speed because people can’t pull the camera at the same speed you’re running. So often actors are just asked to take the edge off the speed, which can look bad on camera; it doesn’t look right. I was told that apparently Tom Cruise is the master of that. He has this technical ability to run at the same speed as the camera, but actually make it look like he’s running faster than he’s actually running.

Read next

Christopher Bailey: ‘Our lives are changing so dramatically. I find it really exciting’

Christopher Bailey is GQ's Designer Of The Year 2017.

ByRobert Johnston

That’s a bizarre skill. Yeah, I think there’s probably only a few people on the planet capable of that.

Following your many thrillers and action roles, do you now know how to put together pretty much any firearm?Yeah. I’ve just been doing a series for Fox called Deep State, which is a conspiracy thriller where I had to dismantle and re-constitute a sniper’s rifle as well as use machine guns and pistols which needed magazine changes, firing, all the usual. So, yeah, I think I’ve learned a few things from being an actor. One of them is probably a totally unnecessary ability to break down and make-up guns, and also to ride horses.

Are there any other nationalities you’d like to play, or accents you love and would like to use?I think I’ve pretty much done them all, haven’t I? I’ve done 30 years’ worth so far. I’ve pretty much played every regional accent you can play in the UK. I’ve played German, French, Arabic; I’ve been Jordanian, Lebanese. I’ve covered a lot of ground.

I have a good laugh with Matthew Vaughn, Danny Boyle and I always get on when we catch up and Roman Polanski I remember loved terrible gags

Is there anyone you’d love to work with that you haven’t already? There are loads. The people I like to work with are the people who are not only good actors and professionals, but also just nice people. Because, you spend a lot of downtime on movie sets and if people aren’t friendly it can make the whole experience very miserable. So, I basically just want to work with people who are very good at what they do, but are also nice people to be around.

So who’s the nicest person you’ve worked with?George Clooney was very friendly, but everybody knows that already. He’s a very sweet guy. I also liked Leonardo DiCaprio. I was impressed at how normal he was able to be, in the light of his extreme fame. I had some lovely chats with him while we were working together. But generally I’ve been lucky. I’ve never worked with anybody who’s anything other than really cool.

Rex / Shutterstock

Did George play any practical jokes on you? No, he didn’t, but in the film we did together [Syriana] he injured his back so badly I think he had to have an operation. And I always felt very guilty because I happened to be torturing him at the time. I always wondered if it was my fault. I bumped into him a couple of years ago, and said “I’m so sorry about your back”. He said, “It wasn’t your fault; I wanted to fall sideways into frame while tied to a chair.”

Who’s the funniest director you’ve ever worked with?They tend to be pretty serious in my experience mainly due to the workload and a need for focus but I have a good laugh with Matthew Vaughn. Danny Boyle and I always get on when we catch up and Roman Polanski I remember loved terrible gags. I also recently met Chris McQuarrie who I haven’t worked with but has a great sense of humour so there’s plenty of funny ones out there.